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The Challenge

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How might we design an accessible election experience for everyone? Read the challenge brief

Concept

What We Vote With (Bar Codes)

With Bar Codes, there are no two same ones. Every voter should get a ballot with a bar code. So, everyone's vote will count, be registered and accurate.

The voter arrives, and gets "scanned in".  It registers that, that voter is present and can now vote (and only vote once).  It can read who has and has not voted.

For the future elections, you could then see the exact number of who did and dod not vote.  It'll help reach out to fture non-voters, to vote.

This process ensures accuracy in voting - tabulation and attendance,

How will this concept improve election accessibility for everyone?

This ensures that everyone's votes are accounted for. It ensures people can only vote once.

If we can track packages across the world, we should be able to track votes - making sure they don't get lost.

How well does this concept adapt to the changing needs of different voter communities?

It will ensure to the younger community, that their vote counts.

Sticking with the bar code idea:

For people with Sensory or Conitive disabilities... If they know who they want, they could "pre-order" their bar code ticket.

They could fill in who they want... then get the ballot mailed to their house.
When they go to the polling place, they can scan their bar-code ticket, then all of the candidates they wanted to choose, get tabulated the way they wanted.

So, this idea could help with accuracy.
It can help empower people with disabilities too.
Their votes would count equally, and they could easily do it.

If the "computer-order" idea works... Everyone could place thier order on their computer. Their pre-ordered ballots then get mailed to them.

So, for people with language barriers, they can do this in their own home, then just go to the polling place and give their bar-code ticket.

For Troops over seas, they could have polling stations at their bases. Their bar codes are labeled with their home state. The computer then tabulates it for that state.

And/or for overseas troops, they all get their pre-ordered ballots with the way they want to vote. All of the bar-codes, ON BASE, then get flown together to a place in the US (Washington, DC, for instance)... then all of the ballots are scanned on US Soil. All of the ballots get casted for their own state.

What kinds of resources – whether time, money, people, partnerships, technology or otherwise – will be needed to get this concept off the ground?

The volunteers would just need to use scanning guns. The computers would be set up before the volunteers got to the polling stations - with the voter info.

Comments

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April 30, 2012, 06:27PM
Ray, I hear what your saying... it's just the start of an idea.
The Barcode would be for accuracy. It could be registered on the other end as just a "NY Voter" or "NC Voter" -- so the people in the right states get them... but then they can scan it in, and get their vote accurately counted.
And/or, you could get the Bar Code Ballot at the polling place - so your name is not attached, then use it to enter your vote.

I'm blown away when you hear of stories where thousands of votes/balltots in certain ounties just get "lost". How is that possible? This is just a way to try to keep every vote counted.

It's a start...
April 30, 2012, 04:51PM
Bar codes on ballots violates secret ballot requirements because they make it possible to link a voter to his voting record. This very issue is before the Colorado supreme court at this time. Regardless of any benefits such a system might provide, the resulting loss of ballot secrecy is unacceptable.
March 13, 2012, 11:37PM
Hi Daniel I like the thinking here it is compatible with Whitney's ideas that the ballot that is cast only needs the voters actual choices not all the options. It would also help to cut down on the size of the ballots to be counted/audited manually.
For completeness I shall link to your concept from my bus ticket (size) ballot idea.
March 07, 2012, 04:26PM
Hi Dan,

Great concept :)

I think in the future phases, we might integrate some aspects. Could you please check my concept and share your comments?

http://www.openideo.com/open/voting/concepting/instead-of-ballots-send-everyone-a-gift-certificates-which-can-be-cashed-or-used-to-buy-things.-/
February 23, 2012, 04:52AM
Hi Daniel, interesting post! Any chance you could find an image to go along with it? Images help grab attention and tell a story with higher impact. You should be able to use the 'Update entry' button on the right of your post and follow the instructions to add images from there. We know occasionally people have issues uploading images so let us know by hitting the Support tab on the right hand side of most pages of our site if you face any problems. Looking forward to seeing more of your inspiring ideas on OpenIDEO.
February 22, 2012, 09:50PM
Hey Daniel, great to have you onboard for our challenge! I thought I'd point out a couple of tools that might help you evolve your idea over time: our Tips for Concepting (http://bit.ly/AdbEH2) offers some guidance for your concepts, and our Guiding Principles (http://bit.ly/AiJnLW) helps explain our focus on accessibility in elections. Looking forward to seeing more of you on OpenIDEO!
Daniel Dore's reply to Daniel Dore's comment
February 22, 2012, 11:51PM
IF, for instance, you used the Bar Code idea - it would be private. It would just be a scan code. Imagine it like an airline ticket. Their Name and State would be on the stub... they can rip it off, before they go to the polling place - and therefore have a Private Ballot, with no name on it.

Some places alreay use computers, so the technology is there.
Computers are transportable... so they could be shared for Primaries, since a lot of states have their Primaries at different times.

The same people whp volunteer on voting day would still have the same function... they could administer running the bar code, under the scanning gun.

This whole process would help the skeptical voters - because then they could see that their vote would be equal, and accurately tabulated.

For people in rural areas, they would get the same feeling... that they have the same equal vote. The bar code won't swipe twice - so it ensures only voting once.

Is the bar code the way to go? I don't know...
 It's just an idea.

I'm happy to help with more ideas...

Dan



Ashley Jablow's reply to Daniel Dore's comment
February 22, 2012, 11:53PM
Great thoughts Dan. Keep 'em coming!
Daniel Dore's reply to Daniel Dore's comment
February 22, 2012, 11:56PM
Sticking with the bar code idea:

For people with Sensory or Conitive disabilities... If they know who they want, they could "pre-order" their bar code ticket.

They could fill in who they want... then get the ballot mailed to their house.

When they go to the polling place, they can scan their bar-code ticket, then all of the candidates they wanted to choose, get tabulated the way they wanted.

So, this idea could help with accuracy.
It can help empower people with disabilities too.

Their votes would count equally, and they could easily do it.
Daniel Dore's reply to Daniel Dore's comment
February 23, 2012, 12:02AM
If the "computer-order" idea works... Everyone could place thier order on their computer. Their pre-ordered ballots then get mailed to them.

So, for people with language barriers, they can do this in their own home, then just go to the polling place and give their bar-code ticket.

For Troops over seas, they could have polling stations at their bases. Their bar codes are labeled with their home state. The computer then tabulates it for that state.

And/or for overseas troops, they all get their pre-ordered ballots with the way they want to vote. All of the bar-codes, ON BASE, then get flown together to a place in the US (Washington, DC, for instance)... then all of the ballots are scanned on US Soil. All of the ballots get casted for their own state.

Daniel Dore's reply to Daniel Dore's comment
February 23, 2012, 12:03AM
People already get absentee ballots... so to make Bar Code Ballots would not be a big change (just an improvement of the ballot).
Daniel Dore's reply to Daniel Dore's comment
February 23, 2012, 12:03AM
People already get absentee ballots... so to make Bar Code Ballots would not be a big change (just an improvement of the ballot).
Ashley Jablow's reply to Daniel Dore's comment
February 23, 2012, 12:05AM
Just a quick tip: you can always go back into your entry to update your concept with some of these other great builds and additions. It'll help newcomers understand your concept quickly and easily. If you have other questions about how OpenIDEO works, you might want to check out our User Forums http://bit.ly/new_users.
Daniel Dore's reply to Daniel Dore's comment
February 23, 2012, 12:05AM
The Bar Code Ballot only has their bar code and Home State on there... so no Political Party would be on there. That means no one knows anyones Party Affiliation. It would not affect the voter, or the polling place volunteer (with Party Affiliation).
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